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Posted by: kwflatbed

TAMPA, Fla. --
A sheriff's deputy was suspended for five days for using excessive force when arresting a woman speeding to the emergency room because she thought her father had suffered a heart attack.
Deputy Kevin Stabins, 29, pulled over Melissa Langston, 37, for speeding as she was pulling into the University Community Hospital parking lot in November.
Footage from the cruiser's dashboard camera shows Langston telling the deputy that her father had suffered a heart attack and had driven himself to the hospital. Stabins took her license and registration and returned to his car to write a ticket.
But after several minutes, Langston took off and drove into the parking lot. After a short pursuit, Stabins pulled Langston out of her car and handcuffed her.
When he pulls her out of the car, he got her in an arm lock that left bruises, spun her around, and slams her against her car's hood hard enough her feet leave the ground, the St. Petersburg Times reported Thursday, citing the video from the dashboard camera.
"Please let me see my dad, " she sobs as he handcuffs her. "If it was your dad ..." Stabins cuts her off. "Now you're not going to see him, 'cause you're going to jail."
The father, William Johnston, stayed in the hospital six days, his wife, Mary Johnston, told the St. Petersburg Times for Thursday's editions. He went home with two stents in his arteries.
It was not clear when the suspension takes place. The sheriff's office did not return a message left early Thursday by The Associated Press.
The Sheriff's Office has dropped all charges against Langston, who was clocked going 63 mph in a 35-mph zone.
"I think (Stabins) understands that he was wrong and could have handled it better," Sheriff David Gee told The Tampa Tribune for Thursday's editions. "On both sides, really, it could have been done better."

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Posted by: secret squirrel

Ok I have to put in my 2 cents.

People who cooperate with the police USUALLY dont have physical force used against them. If the woman just cooperated and took the ticket, she would have been on her way. She could have used the medical emergency excuse at her ticket appeal hearing. She could have explained why she was going almost twice the speed limit to get the hospital. She could explain how her reckless driving may have put other law abiding motorists at risk.

I understand she must have been very concerned and rightfully so about her father's health but in reality, what was she going to do when she got there. If she just took her time, well maybe sped a little over the limit none of this would have happend. He was in a hospital being treated by medical professionals. Where was the emergency for her? Instead, she leads the Deputy on a short pursuit.

I may not have handled this incident the exact same way but I do not disagree with what the Deputy did. He stops her and starts to write a ticket. She leads him on a short pursuit. He tries to remove her from the car and is met with some resistance. He spins her around and positions her against the car to handcuff her. Where is the excessive force? What's up with his Department and why won't they back him. I think the force was reasonalbe based on her actions. I hope he sues his PD and gets a bundle of $$$$$.

Any thoughts or feelings about this?

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Posted by: SOT

It wasn't like SHE was driving her dad to the hospital, he had already driven himself to the hospital...and then she takes off...and that's OK?
WTF.
So now the excuse near a hospital is, to yell my dad is in the hospital and drive off and it's ok?

The lady was wrong, the cop was right, and the shitbirds that suspended him are dumb asses.

EOT.

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